Historical Societies are among the most valuable organisations in our society. It is mainly through historical societies that the community memory is maintained. Without historical societies most communities would lose track of their own history.

These societies are usually made up of a handful of active members who spend days, weeks and years collecting, protecting and preserving local history. Without local history there would be no sense of national history. There is an inescapabe link with local history and all other levels and interpretations of a national history.

All kinds of researchers and seekers come to local history societies when they need to find things. Historians, students, journalist, councillors and even developers.

The Living Museum is part of a network called the Western Region Group of Historical Societies. There are twelve member societies which cover the west and northern suburbs of Melbourne. Between them they hold a key to a vast store of knowledge about the history of Melbourne.

The Living Museum is working on a project called 'HERITAGE ONLINE' where the Museum is working with the other societies to bring them onto the internet. The aim is to bring the Western Region Historical Societies online so more is known of what they have to offer.

This project is expected to take some time as there is a lot of steps to take and negotiations to make. Check back occasionally to mark our progress.